If you're doing a lot of cutting, I would suggest using an air-powered die grinder with a cut-off wheel. Carbon dust can short out electric motors. Whatever the method I would also recommend having an assistant with a shop vac on-hand to keep the dust in check.
Thanks for the useful info. The antenna described above was an old installation, instead of comparing properties between the old and new, a complete analysis was done for the new antenna to show negligable drag force (new antenna is a simple cylinder sticking up off the fuselage).
JD
For a simple loads calculation, I would like a good reference for drag coefficients of various shapes. Specifically, a cone placed vertically in the airstream as such _/\_ with flow from the side. I would prefer something online as time contraints and resources would preclude ordering textbooks...
Sounds like a place where I used to work; shop experience for a couple weeks then up to the office to do design work. Pay close attention on the shop floor, knowing how things are put together down there will be a great help once you're up in the office. Another great help is working on...